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West Papuans explain consulate break-in

Three West Papuan activists appear in a video, saying they want to raise international awareness of political prisoners in Indonesian jails, and of restrictions on reporting the situation in their homeland. (Video supplied)

A man who listened in to part of a conversation involving West Papuans in Sunday's Australian consulate protest says an Australian male voice was shouting at the men in a harsh, arrogant voice about calling the police.

The Indonesian activist, who did not want to be named, told Fairfax Media he heard part of the conversation over an open phone line after the three people who raided the consulate rang for advice.

The news came as Prime Minister Tony Abbott strengthened even further his rhetoric on the troubled Indonesian province, saying he wanted in "flashing neon lights" the fact that Australia would "not give people a platform to grandstand against Indonesia".

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Three men, Rofinus Yanggam, Markus Jerewon and Yuvensius Goo, climbed a back wall of the consulate in the early hours of Sunday morning and delivered a letter to Australian Consul-General Brett Farmer asking for world leaders attending the APEC meeting to press Indonesia to treat West Papuans better.

They also asked for Indonesia to allow greater freedoms in the troubled province.

The men left the consulate at 6.46 am, but the Government is facing calls from the Greens and others for a full explanation about the circumstances after claims the men were threatened with arrest.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the men left the consulate "voluntarily".

But the men themselves later said Mr Farmer had threatened to call in the Indonesian police or military, who would have needed his permission to enter the consulate.

An activist told Fairfax Media he was with another person when the men called for advice about whether the Australians could legally allow police to enter the consulate.

Over the phone line, "suddenly I heard an Australian voice saying: 'You cannot stay here. You have to leave.' And then: 'We will call the police'," the activist said.

"It was pretty harsh. The tone … was quite arrogant, that was my first impression … It was shouting, because I could hear it from a distance. It was pretty loud."

Shortly afterwards the activist received word the men had left the consulate in a taxi.

Both the activist and the person receiving the phone call are concerned that, if they are identified, they may come under pressure from Indonesian security forces, who are highly sensitive about separatist sentiment in West Papua.

Greens senator Richard di Natale has pressed for a "clear and detailed" account of events inside the consulate, saying the men had been forced to leave with "a gun to their heads".

But when asked about the incident at the APEC summit about 30 minutes from the consular office in Bali, Mr Abbott said Australia had a "very strong relationship" with Indonesia.

He then said he wanted it "absolutely crystal clear" that: "People seeking to grandstand against Indonesia, please, don't look to do it in Australia, you are not welcome.

"The situation in West Papua is getting better, not worse.

"I want to acknowledge the work [Indonesian] President [Susilo Bambang] Yudhoyono has done to provide greater autonomy, a better level of government services and ultimately a better life for the people of West Papua."

Fairfax Media has established that several hours after the men entered the building, a taxi was called for them from inside the consulate.

with Amilia Rosa

10 comments

Please somebody explain to me what is the issue here. 3 guys broke illegally into the Australian consulate but apparently it is now the Australian staff fault encouraging them to leave before calling the policeSurely it is the internal Indonesian political issue and Australia should stay away from it.But if Greens have a different view - perhaps they should jump into a boat to Indonesia and climb the Indonesian parliament in protest - or not enough guts for that??

Commenter

Tom

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 10:05AM

during the world war there were hardly any Muslims in Indonesia and the native PAUPANS were credited for helping our soldiers to heroic proportions, however, since then, it became very Muslim non native and many natives attacked, persecuted along with any other christian denominations, technically an invaded island via population method. Not long back Govt TURNED BACK a few boats of paupans seeking protection asylum, and we abused the laws by unlike all other asylums we did not even hear their cases and SENT THEM BACK, and again we protect Indonesia Muslim leaders and do similar. Australian Govt clearly fear Indonesia with over 200 million people spending 8 billion on defense gear probably funded by us and likely intended to be used on us. CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS YES.

Commenter

Brian - CHISHOLM

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 1:40PM

There are plenty of our Pacific neighbours who are not staying away from the issue. Best you read up on the situation before condemning the Greens.The Greens have been involved with the Social Justice issues facing West Papuans for many years. Not to mention the huge environmental problems caused by the worlds biggest Copper mine, the huge gold mine Freeport and Palm oil plantations.Australian Mining companies are operating in WP, so of course it should be on our radar.NO journalists are allowed into the Provence, does that not ring alarm bells,

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 1:51PM

Tom, agreed. Three people have scaled the walls of the consulate without proper screening and confronted staff. This is a security issue which, had it persisted, would have necessitated police intervention.

The embassy in Jakarta was bombed in 2004. Since a paid intern there in my late teens, the security changes are astonishing but necessary. On a recent visit, my passport details were registered prior to my arrival (ie. I had to ring ahead), with full metal and explosive residue screenings behind a bomb proof wall before I was allowed into the office areas. This is standard procedure for all admissions to the compound.

Brian, your statements are not particularly controversial, although perhaps a little incorrect. Islam has been in Indonesia since Arab and Indian traders brought it with them in the 11th century.

A country gal, no mainstream Australian government will support an independent West Papua. It is not in Australia's strategic and security interests to have fragile, weak and potentially failing states right on our northern approaches. This has been articulated time and again in public policy statements and successive White Papers. These resources are available online if you would like to read up on them and understand the counter-argument ie. Australia's regional security interests are best maintained through a cohesive and unified Indonesia. (NB. I refrain from inserting my own opinion on this one way or the other - I'm simply stating fact)

Commenter

Miss Rach

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 2:55PM

Miss Rach your opinion is moral and logical gobbeldygook. Papuans do not fit the description of an Indonesian Islamic terrorist... besides this argument is not even an excuse, if they wanted to bomb the place, the already breached security by the time they were confronted. The Australian reaction is pure and simple kotowing to the Indonesians.

The moral fail comes from the appeasement argument that it is somehow in the interest of Australia to to allow and keep quite about Indonesia's destruction of the native Papuans and their culture. I fail to see how it strengthens Australia to establish support for invasion and gradual genocide. Though I did gain an insight into another facet of the moral corruption among those determining our foreign policy. Hint: we survived Indonesia's tantrums over East Timor and the end result is for the best.

Commenter

Rob_Hob

Location

Australia

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 3:32PM

We must stop the boats.

Commenter

Meh1

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 4:10PM

Rob, thanks for your response.

As far as unauthorised entry into the consulate, the profile of any unscreened intruder is secondary. The fact that three people (regardless of race, gender, age, religion) have entered the compound without screening, is a security concern. I would expect a similar reaction if I, an Australian female, jumped the compound wall and approached staff.

The rest of my post is quite deliberately devoid of moral judgements. I did state in my original post that I was refraining from inserting my personal opinion, not because I do not have my own judgements and opinions on this matter, rather, I am simply describing the logic (yes, there is a logic to the process, even one which may be deemed morally perverted) behind these decisions. I would caution you from relying on a random blog post such as mine to gain any kind of 'insight into foreign policy'. There is plenty of open source literature to this end.

I disagree that appeasement is the basis for Australia asserting that it's interests are best served by a cohesive northern neighbour. It is pure self-interest, not appeasement of Indonesia, that drives Australia in this direction.

Re Timor Leste: it is a fragile state with one of the highest rates of poverty (and associated issues) in the world. Australia has assumed responsibility for it (not without extracting extensive rights to Timorese gas fields, mind you). I believe the Australian govenment is not willing to support many more independent states in the region.

NB. I have, once again, deliberately ommitted any kind of moral judgement or personal opinion from those last two paragraphs.

Commenter

Miss Rach

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 4:28PM

So, Indonesia can militarily invade Papua, annexe half of the country, call it their own, and after the farce of Malcolm Fraser completely disregarding the invasion, the Liberal Party is now to actively defend Indonesia in this? Colour me diplomatically ignorant, but this is bollocks of the highest order, and I'm ashamed to be part of this country in this matter.

Commenter

greg

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 12:20PM

Greg - If you are so convinced about the positives of sovereignty for the West Papua why don’t pack your bags and move to Port Moresby of the independent PNG.See firsthand the corruption and crime which is running that failed state.Also talk to local elders who may still remember the old days of living under the “oppressive colonial rules” of Australia - you will be surprised what you learn.

Commenter

Tom

Date and time

October 08, 2013, 3:57PM

Abbott built a platform from which he repeatedly grandstanded against Indonesia.

Abbott did it because he wanted to make political capital out of boat people.

West Papuans do it because they want basic human rights.

Political capital, like money, trumps human rights any day if you are Tony Abbott.